Woman who helped blind activist escape hopes to lead normal life

2012/05/05 21:11:22

Taipei, May 5 (CNA) The woman who helped drive blind Chinese human rights activist Chen Guangcheng to Beijing after he escaped from house arrest said Saturday that she is home safe and is not under surveillance, according to Commercial Radio Hong Kong.

He Peirong, who was born in 1972 and was an English teacher in Nanjing, told the radio station that she had been in police custody since April 27 and stayed in a hotel before returning home Friday.

She said she did not provide the public security authorities with details about Chen's escape from his hometown in Shandong Province in late April and added that she has not been in contact with him.

She told the radio station that like the protagonist in the 1994 film "The Shawshank Redemption," Chen's successful escape relied mainly on his own efforts.

Despite describing her contribution as limited, He said she felt proud to have assisted Chen but hopes to now live a normal life and keep a low profile.